Manila, Philippines, Feb 19, 2008 / 23:01 pm
Though critics of government corruption in the Philippines have called upon Catholic bishops to lead the reform movement, the nation’s bishops have refrained from involvement.
One prominent bishop has suggested that the efforts to imitate past “People Power” anti-corruption movements, in which clergy played a leading role, must now take on a new form. He suggested some people fear another reform movement might only “bring the country from one frying pan to a worse frying pan.”
Recently, Philippines President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and certain cabinet members have faced allegations of corruption in a now-canceled program to build a national broadband network.
Rodolfo Lozada, a former government consultant, testified before a Senate committee on February 8. He claimed a $329 million broadband service contract with a Chinese telecommunications company contained $130 million in kickbacks. Among others, Lozada implicated the former head of the election commission, Benjamin Abalos Sr., and President Arroyo’s husband, Jose Miguel Arroyo.